Dirigible headlight



Jan. 19, 1932. J. c s

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Original Filed Aug. is, 1929 2, Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR rrz\s;

ATTORNEY WITNESSES Jan. 19, 1932. .1. M. CALKiNS DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Original Filed Aug. 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ma 0 m A/ $1 1,! l M iNVENTOR c2214 Ca Zfif1 326 .w H E Wi'i'NESSES qb ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITE STATES PATENT JAMES M. GALKINS, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Application filed August 19, 1929, Serial No. 387,087. Renewed June 17, 1981.

This invention relates to improvements in Figure 8 is a cross-section taken on the dirigible headlights for motor vehicles, and line 88 of Figure 7. it consists of the combinations and arrange- This invention is a further improvement ments herein described and claimed. on the dirigible headlights disclosed in Case An object of the invention is to provide #1, filed August 19, 1929, Serial No. 387,065, a dirigible headlight construction in which and Case #3, filed August 19, 1929, Serial the actuating means for the headlights is so No. 387,060, as well as Patent No. 1,569,261, arranged to produce a greater degree of January 12, 1926, all by J. M. Calkins. The Y downward swinging or clipping of one of underlying purpose of the constructions in the headlights than the other when rotating the cases noted as well as in the instant appliboth headlights through equal angular discation, is to produce a variable downward tances thus to illuminate one part more than swinging of the headlights when these are another of the road which is being traversed simultaneously rotated through equal angular by thevehicle in rounding a curve. distances in either direction. The efiect of Another object of the invention is to conthis operation is to illuminate one portion of struct the foregoing actuating means subthe road at a place relatively near to the Vestantially on the order of a ball-and-socket hicle, and another portion at a more remote joint, thus insuring the maximum freedom of point. a movement when manipulating the head- This is made to occur only when the vehicle lights, it being in the joint of each headlight is steered around a curve. Ordinarily both that the means for producing the foregoing headlights will assume a true forwardly divariable swinging or dipping of the headrected position so that an even illumination lights is incorporated. of the road is had when travelling a straight w Further objects and advantages will apcourse. It is only when rounding a curve that pear in the following specification, reference the necessity for variably swin ing or dipbeing had to th accom anying drawings, ping the headlights occurs, anddoy virtue of in which the instrumentalities embodied in the device,

Figure 1 is a front levation of n gh of it becomes possible to more directly LI1Cl pOS 1- an automobile to illustrate the application of y il uminate the near shoulder whlch 1t the improved clirigible headlight is so essential for the motorist to see, as well Figure 2 is a vertical section of the actuatas MlJOIIIlIIg POI iOIIS 0f the mad along t e ing means of the right headlight, parts being farther r hes'of the curve. I shown in elevation; Reference 18 made to the drawings. It will Figure 3 is a erti l ti t k on th be observed at once that the mounting of the lines 33 of both Figures 1 and 2, parts beright and left headlights 1 n 2 m m again Shown in elevation: ing these from the position of the driver of Figure 4 is a sectional diagram illustrating the 1 9 3) mt i the pariable swinging dipping of the socket o1nt. It 1s 111 this o1nt that the actut' i riable n headlights when the vehicle 1s steered around a h meansrfolt produc no nurve swinging or cl pping of the headlights 1s 1n- \l 5 n e t k corporated. Considering now only the actulgime 51. 1011 a en on ating means of the right headlight 1, the-lat- O i 2 ter' is suitably attached to a supporting arm Flgure 6 1S a elsvamon the t i which comprises either an integral part of w mg means the fight, d sl t P a ball 5 or is so secured thereto as to compose lllustmtmg a modlficatlon 1n the form a single element. The ball is both rotatable and loqetion the cam Slot, Pafts being swingable in a cup 6 into which the upper shown In Sectlon; end of a sleeve 'Zis formed. The cup is part Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on. the ofasocket that contains the ball 5, the socket ioo line 7-7 of Figure 6; and being completed by a cap 8 and a bearing member 9. Although the members 8 and 9 complete the socket, as stated, it is actually the cup 6 that constitutes the socket because this is the member that is stationary in respect to the ball 5. The ball 5 with its cap 8 and bearing member 9 is movable in respect to the cup or socket 6.

The cap 8 is secured to the ball 5, and one Way of doing it is to screw it onto a threaded portion 10. On a similar order, the bearing member 9 is screwed upon the cap 8'at 11, the joint of this particular place being fixed by a set screw 12 (Figure 3). The contacting surfaces of the cup 6 and bearing member 9 are struck on the are of a circle of which the ball or sphere 5 is the center. The cup 6 and sleeve 7 are a fixture but the ball 5 with its connected cap 8 and bearing member 9 are freely movable as one in the required directions.

A tubular shanks 13 encases the lamp-actuating rod 14 which, at its upper end, is pivotally connected at the center of the ball 5 by a pin 15 (Figures 3 and 5). For this purpose, the hall 5 is provided with a recess 16 into which the conformably flattened upper end 17 extends so that a pivot connection can be made. The upper extremity of the end 17 is rounded at 18 to agree with the adjoining part of the recess, thus to form an additional bearing for the ball 5 in its forwardly swinging motion. The recess 16 is flared, as shown in Figure 3, to accommodate these motions of the ball.

Cam slots 19 and 20, formed in the front and rear surfaces of the ball 5, receive studs 21 and 22 that are carried by the cup 6 and protrude inwardly therefrom. A convenient way, and probably the most practical, is to thread the outer ends of the studs and provide them with slots so that they can be screwed into threaded holes in the cup 6 at diametrically opposite points in line with the center of the ball 5. The outer ends of the studs are concealed by the bearing member 9, and only upon an extreme forward swinging of the headlight would the rearmost stud 22 be exposed below the edge of the bearing member 9. Incidentally, these members are provided with hexagonal or other non-circular configurations (Figure 1) so that a wrench may be applied conveniently for screwing them home.

In the instance of the stud 22, provision is made of a roller sleeve 23 which rides in the rear cam slot 20. This requires an enlargement of the cam slot, and in practice it will be optional whether or not to use a roller sleeve in connection with each stud. The roller sleeve will materially reduce the friction, but inasmuch as the inside of the socket will be filled with a suitable grease. there will be adequate lubrication to reduce the wear to a minimum. The grease is introduced at an openin 24 (Figure Consider the cam slots 19 and 20. These are identical in form, although reversed in position, as plainly shown in Figure 2. The opposite end of each slot is curved at 25 and levelled at 26. The cam surfaces thus provided will cause a forward swinging of the ball 5 and its carried parts on the pivot 15 in reference to the stationary studs 21 and 22 when the actuating rod 14 is rotated. The rotational movement is imparted to the lamp supporting arm 4, and it is simultaneously with the rotational movement that the foregoing swinging or dipping of the ball 5 ocours.

The degree of pivotal swinging depends on the direction in which the rod 14 is rotated. If rotated to the right (see the right end of Figure 4) the curved ends 25 of the cam slots will advance upon the stationary studs 21 and 22, imparting a decided downward deflection to the ball and its carried lamp. Should the rod be rotated to the left, the level ends of the cam slots will advance upon the stationary studs 21 and 22, causing a lesser downward deflection of the ball and its carried lamp. The level ends 26 are situated only slightly above and below the horizontal axis of the ball 5, thus being capable of producing only the slight deflection mentioned. However the curved ends 25 extend to points considerably bcyond the horizontal axis, thus being able to produce the more decided deflection mentioned.

A pair of springs 27, 28 (Figure 3) resist the forward deflection of the headlight and assist in returning the latter to the original upright position. These springs are seated in angularly disposed sockets 29 in' the actuating rod 14 and at their outer ends bear against one of the flaring walls of the recess 16. One of the springs is larger than the other. The purpose of the two springs is to establish a maximum amount of resiliency with a requisite amount of spring tension. A large and a small spring will accomplish the purpose, but if the required degree of spring tension were obtained by making a sufficiently heavy spring, there would be a possibility of sacrificing flexibility and freedom of motion of the ball 5.

Attention is directed to Figures 16 and 17. All parts that substantially agree with those shown in Figures 2 and 3 are designated by corresponding reference characters without necessarily repeating all of the description. Instead of mounting both studs 21 and 22 upon the cup 6 it is only the stud 22 (Figure 7) that is so mounted. The stud 21 is secured to and protrudes from the ball 5, but in each instance the stud works in a cam slot precisely in the former manner. However, for the purposes of the front stud 21, the cam slot 30 (Figure 6) is formed in the cup (5 rather than in the ball 5, as in the instance of the slot 19. Each rear slot 20, in the instance of Figures or at curs in the instance of the rear slots 20. Here 2 and 7, will be identical in shape, but by virtue of the fact that the front slot 30 now appears in the cup 6, it is necessary to curve the end 25 downwardly instead of upwardly, as in Figure 2. Rotation of the actuating rod is in all instances is produced by connecting arms 31 (Figure 3) of the two headlight-actuating means by a link 32 (Figure 1). This link produces a parallel motion when rotation is imparted one of the rods l t by means that, in practice, can be suitably operated, attention being directed to the foregoing Case 1 for a representative type of such means. The operation is as follows and this descrip-' tion applies to both forms of the invention disclosed herein. Attention is directed to Figure 4. The cam slots of the left headlight 2 are reversed in position in reference to the cam slots of the right headlight 1. In r words, the level ends 26 of the front remote points, while the curved ends 25 of the front slots are to the insides of the vehicle near points. The same situation octhe level ends 26 adjoin each other while the curved ends 25 are at remote points.

This disposition of the slots is necessary to V prod co the variable deflection or clipping of the headlights previously mentioned when simultaneously rotating the headlights through equal angular distances in one direction or the other. Bear in mind that the front and rear studs 21 and 22 are relatively stationary. Only the balls are capable of rotation. Assume that a right curve is to be negotiated. A turn of the vehicle to the rightwill cause rotation of both actuating rods 14 to the right and a corresponding rotation of liection of the light beam 34 so that the latter t ll illuminates that partof the road adjoining the shoulderbut at a point farther along the reaches of the curve. The driver will thus be enabled to not only see the shoulder but also an expanse of the road farther along the curve.

Upon a left turn the same effect will be had. it will then be the right headlight 1 that will be subject to a shallow deflection, uminate the near but less abrupt -.nd the left headlight 2 that will be the sharp deflection and have init the duty of illuminating the tions of the road adjoining the shoulder. When steering a true forward course, there will be no deflection of the headlights, and even slight turns to the right or left, which will be inevitable in the ordinary running of the vehicle, will have little or no effect on the headlights for a reason that will be perceived in Figures 2 and 6. The curved ends of the cam slots are so disposed in reference to the studs 21 and 22 that the directions of the curved ends are quite uniform at points immediately to either side of the studs.

t dtl 11 L11 0 .161 w on s, is studs noima y occupy the valleys or deepestparts of the curved ends, and in traversing these valleys (or what n But when a turn is intentionally made, then more of the slots advance pen the studs, producing either a deep deflection in the instance of the remote .ni of the vehicle.

it will not be appreciable in the ordinary i735 portions of the rounded ends 25, or a shallow deflection in the instance of the level ends 26, as already emphasized above.

While the construction and arrangements of the dirigible headlight is that of a generally preferred form, obviously difi jos lions and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim 1. A headlight supporting structure comprising a ball and socket joint, means for rotating the ball and thus a headlight carried thereby in one plane, and means embodied in the joint causing swinging of the call and headli ht in another lane durin said rotation.

2. A headlight supporting structure comprising aball and socket oint, means for rotating the ball in the horizontal plane to correspondingly rotate a headlight carried thereby, and means embodied in the joint causing swinging of the ball and headlight in the vertical plane during said rotation.

3. A headlight supporting structure comprising a ball and socket joint, means for rotating the ball and thus a headlight car- 3 ri d thereby in the horizontal plane, and means embodied in the ball and socket, fitting together and causing sw: ng of the ball and headlight in the vertical plane during said rotation.

l. A headlight supporting structure com and cam slot arrangement embodied in the causing swinging of the ball and headin the vertical plane during said rotaeadlight supporting structure comprising a joint composed of ball and socket members, means for rotating the ball and thus a headlight carried thereby in the horizontal plane, a cam slot in one of the joint members, and a stud fixed on the other joint member upon which stud the slot advances to swing the ball and headlight in the vertical plane.

6. A headlight supporting structure comprising a ball and socket joint, means for uniformly rotating the ball and thus a headlight carried thereby in one plane, and means embodied in the joint causing variable swinging of the ball and headlight in another plane during rotation in opposite directions.

7. A headlight supporting structure comprising a ball and socket oint. means for uniformly rotating the ball and thus a headlight carried thereby in the horizontal plane, and a cam arrangement embodied in the joint causing a deflection of the ball and headlight in the vertical plane upon rotation in one direction and a sharper deflection of the ball and headlight in the vertical plane upon rotation in the opposite direction.

8. A headlight supporting structure comprising a joint composed of ball and socket members, means for rotating one of the members and thus a headlight carried thereby in the horizontal plane, a stud fixed on one of the joint members. an d a cam slot in the other joint member receiving the stud and having cam surfaces which cause deflections of the headlight upon rotation of said one member in either direction by the advance of said cam surfaces over the stud.

9. A headight supporting structure comprising a joint composed of a ball member with a cam slot which has cam surfaces consisting of curved and levelled portions and a socket member having a stud fitting in the slot, and means for rotating one of said members causing deflection of said member as well. as of a headlight carried by said memher by virtue of a relative change in position of the cam surfaces and the stud.

10. A headlight supporting structure com prising a joint composed of a ball member with a cam slot and a stud and a socket memher with a stud and cam slot, said studs and cam slots fitting together, and means for rotating one of said members as well as a headlight carried by said member thus caus- .ing a deflection of said member and the headlight by virtue of the relative change of position of the studs and slots in respect to each other.

11. A headlight supporting structure comprising a ball and socket joint, means for rotating the ball and thus a headlight carried thereby in one plane, means embodied in the joint causing a rocking of the ball and headlight in another plane during said rotation, and resilient means embodied in the joint tending to resist said rocking as well as tending to rock the ball back to an original position.

12. A headlight supporting structure comprising a headlight supporting rod having a ball with a cam slot formed with cam surfaces, a rotatable lamp-actuating rod upon which the ball is pivoted to rock, and a fixed socket by which the ball is received having a stud entering the slot and by the advance upon which the cam surfaces will rock the ball and the headlight during rotation of said rod.

13. A headlight supporting structure comprising a headlight supporting arm having a recess and a cam slot with cam surfaces, a rotatable lamp-actuating rod pivoted in the recess and affording a bearing for the ball in the rocking motions of which it is susceptible, said rod having a socket, a spring seated in the socket bearing against a wall of the recess, and a fixed cup providing a socket for the ball having a stud occupying the slot and causing rocking of the ball and headlight against the tension of said spring upon the pivot by advance of the cam surfaces upon the stud upon rotation of the rod.

JAMES M. CALKINS. 

